For most people, Omaha Hi-Low can be a confusing game. It has been gaining popularity due to its massive action and complexity of play. Texas Hold’Em only has one hundred and sixty-nine starting hand combinations. Omaha, on the other hand, has over sixteen thousand.

Omaha explained

Omaha Hi-Low, or Omaha Eight or Better, is a split-pot version of the popular Omaha poker game. There are two winning hands in each round, the high winner and the low winner.

The high hand winner refers to the player with the highest value winning hand. It is the same as in regular poker games. The low hand winner refers to the player with the best hand with five unpaired cards. These cards should have a value of eight or lower. In the low hand, you ignore flushes and straights.

Tips and strategies

It is better if you know the basics of Pot Limit Omaha Hi. You will get to grips with Omaha Hi-Lo strategy quicker and better. If you are not familiar with anything, here are some tips and strategies you could consider.

Be prepared to fold on the flop.

Recognizing when you have a weak hand early on will help you get out of the game quicker. It is an essential strategy in Omaha Hi-Lo. Since the game favors the highest value hands, if the flop offers you little, fold already. Betting on average hands is not a good idea.

Do not commit too early.

Do not give in to temptations and raise early. You will reduce the field as you commit a lot of money before you even see the flop. Keep as many players in the game as possible. Some players will raise the bet early, although they do not have a strong hand. They do this to try to force others to fold. Be careful if you want to try this because this strategy can backfire after the flop.

Do not bluff.

You should leave bluffing to Texas Hold’Em. Omaha Hi-Lo focuses on strong hands. Once the betting starts, you have opponents who have high-value combinations. You will only lose if you try bluffing. Some Omaha Hi-Lo strategy advanced situations may find bluffing useful. But you need enough experience and skills to understand these situations.

After you receive the hole cards, you need to make the critical decision of whether to play your hand or not. You should decide to play if you have a premium hand, but avoid raising the bet until after the flop. You can scoop the multi-way pot in that case.

Omaha Hi-Lo is not for everyone. If you have tried the game but do not feel like it suits you, you can try other variations of poker. Dewa Poker, Texas Hold’Em, Seven-Card Stud, and Five-Card Draw are worth trying.

Remember that you aim to scoop the pot. Only play in loose games where five or more players see the flop on average. You can play more often to practice and hone your skills. It is better if you can calculate accurate odds. Protect your hand at all times, and do not let others see your cards.